Archaeology: Equipping you for the modern workplace

1. Archaeology: Equipping you for the modern workplace

2. Welcome Dr. Louise Revell Archaeology admissions tutor louise.revell@soton.ac.uk

3. What can Archaeology offer?

4. What is an Archaeology degree? The study of people in the past through their material remains

5. What is an Archaeology degree? 2 million years of human past

6. What is an Archaeology degree? Working in the field

7. What is an Archaeology degree? Working on primary materials

8. What is an Archaeology degree? Heritage, museums and the presentation of the past

9. What kind of degree? • Single honours Archaeology/Archaeological Science (BA/BSc) • Combined honours with • History • Geography • Anthropology • Classical Studies (including Ancient History) • Languages

10. Myths about an Archaeology degree • Has someone told you that … • an Archaeology graduate can only work as a digger  • an Archaeology degree is only a vocational education  • an Archaeology graduate learns a narrower range of transferable skills than graduates in History and related subjects  • Then they are wrong!

11. Careers directly related to Archaeology: digger surveyor conservator finds specialist project manager heritage manager museum curator museum education officer museum exhibitions officer tourism officer historic buildings inspector conservation officer What kind of career?

12. What kind of career? In 2002 there were 4,425 people working as ‘diggers’ and museum staff, professors, public administrators and business consultants. Growth was predicted at 30% or more by 2008.

13. What kind of career? Build your job skills • Mix of science and arts • Practical and theoretical • Embedded in assessments • Teamwork • Critical thinking and problem solving • Preparing and presenting reports • Communication skills • IT skills

14. What kind of career? Graduate employers look for: • Flexibility, adaptability and the capacity to cope with & manage change (88%) • Self motivation and drive (88%) • Analytical ability and decision making (75%) • Communication and interpersonal skills (75%) • Teamworking ability and skills (63%) • Organisation, planning and prioritisation abilities (50%) (HEA survey of graduate employers 2005)

15. What kind of career? Graduate perceptions of their employability (Southampton Archaeology graduates 2007; scores out of 5) Ability to work with others 4.5 Written communication skills 4.5 Problem solving & analytical skills 4.4 Ability to learn/research independently 4.5 Personal confidence 4.5 Overall employability 4.4

16. What kind of career? 65% of vacancies advertised for graduates in the UK do not ask for specific degree subjects. Jobs taken by Archaeology graduates include: • teaching • financial sector • armed forces • law Head of the British Film Institute is a graduate of Southampton Archaeology Managing director of Waitrose is an Archaeology graduate

17. What do you look for? • Interest in the past • Academic track record (offers are BBB/ABB or equivalent qualifications) • Study skills • Ability to think critically